Steam iron



0, 1957 E. E. RAIHLE I 2,803,073

STEAM IRON Filed Nov 18-, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fzzfsswwefl/ f; EAMME B ,JM L im-m- 1957 E. E. RAlHLE 2,803,073

STEAM IRON Filed NOV 18, 1953 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VENTOI? fuzswwem f Rum/1E Arron/var United States Patent STEAM IRON 'Ellesworth E. Raihle, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application November 18, 1953, Serial No. 392,860

10 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates generally to steam irons of the household variety.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a steam iron equipped with steam discharge means for conducting the steam to the ironing surface of the soleplate which will be efiective in operation, inexpensive to fabricate, and easy to assemble.

More specifically, an aim of the invention is to utilize a steam delivery tube which may be readily installed within an enveloping steam dome. by inserting one end of the tube through the bottom side of the soleplate. In this connection it is a desideratum of the invention to steam dome in operative juxtaposition with each other without resort to threaded means or other elaborate fastening mechanism disposed between the soleplate and either the delivery tube or dome. The physical arrangement and the accompanying facilitated assembly technique of the aforenoted parts also render it possible to employ a simplified bafliing structure providing a tortuous steam flow path that either assures the breaking-up of any drops of water that might be entrained in the steam or their return to the steam generation chamber for more complete vaporization.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth in the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view taken through the center of the steam iron;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view taken in the direction of line 22 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a perspective detail view showing the specific construction of the bafliing structure depicted in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward portion of the soleplate;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the steam dome;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the steam delivery tube;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view corresponding 'to Fig ure 1 but showing a somewhat modified version of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail view taken in the direction of line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective detail illustrating the specific construction of the bafiie shown in Figures 7 and 8.

One exemplified embodiment of the invention is represented by the reference letter A in Figure 1, and, conventionally, the steam iron there shown includes a soleplate 10 having a heating element 12 embedded therein. Surmounting the soleplate 10 is a reservoir 14 which is retained in proper position relative to the soleplate by means of suitable members, such 'as studs 16. Adjacent 2,803,073 Patented Aug. 20, 1957 the forward portion of the reservoir 14 is a filler :plug labeled 15 which has a vent passage 18 extending axially therethrough. The filler plug 15 is threadedly received in a collar 20 which may be soldered or brazed to the underside of the top of the reservoir. Also serving to seal the liquid within the reservoir is a washer 22 disposed between the reservoir and an integral flange carried by the plug 15.

For the express purpose of permitting control of energization of the heating element 12, a bushing 24 encircles an adjusting shaft 26. The shaft 26 has at its upper end a manipulating knob 28 and has connected to its lower end a thermostat 30 which opens and closes in response to heat received from the soleplate 10 in the customary manner. The thermostat is in circuit with a pair of conductors 32 which form part of the usual electric cord employed with irons of this general type, 'andin this way the heat of the iron is regulated. Attached to the upper surface. of the reservoir 14, such as by means of bracket members 34 and screws 36, which bracket members are afiixed to the reservoir as by soldering or brazing, is a handle member 38.

Proceeding now with a discussion of that part of the disclosure believed novel, it will be "seen from an in-. spection of Figure 1 that the soleplate 1 0 is provided with a tapered aperture or passage designated bythe numeral 48., the passage serving to emit steam from the ironing sur 'face of the soleplate. Engaged within the tapered aperture 48 is a steam delivery tube 50 having a flared lower end 52 which is of a size so that the upper end only of the tube 50 will pass through the smaller diameterjpor-tion of the aperture 48, the .flared end 5.2 being of such .size that it will .not pass through. By so fashioning the lower end of the tube 50, this end actually in its preferred form being complemental with the aperture 48 as far as the degree of taper is concerned, the tube 50 may be readily inserted part way through the aperture by introducing the upper end from the bottom or ironing side of the soleplate. As will pesently be made clear the flared end 52 .is wedged or .pressureally engaged within the aperture 48.

Encircling or enveloping the upstanding tube 50 is a generally cylindrical steam dome 54 having at its lower end a steam generating chamber .56. A tubular exten-' 'sion 58 having a'passage 60 extending therethrough serves as the .means providing communication between the reservoir 14 and the steam generating chamber 56, To assure an eifective seal at the locus of juncture with the lower side of the reservoir 14, a gasket 62 is interposed-between the extension Y58 and the reservoir, there being suggestively employed a pair of screws 64 for main-v taining a firm joint. Permitting the dome '54 to extend upwardly from the soleplate 10 and through the reservoir 14 is a bushing 66 which is suitably soldered or brazed into place within-said reservoir. At the upper end of the dome .54 an aperture 68'is formed through the dome material, the purpose of this aperture being to accommodate a collar 70 integral with a nut member 72. interposed between the under side of the nut 72 and the upper end of the dome 54 is a sealing washer 74, both the nut and washer circumscribing an upwardlyextending threaded stud member 76 which is fixedly connected at its lower end to the delivery tube 50. Q

Since the lower end of the steam dome 54, which forms. the steam generating chamber 56, must be' in liquid or vapor sealing relationship with the soleplate 10 the sole: plate is preferably equipped with an annular groove78 which contains a gasket member 80f In thisway,:aiter the delivery tube 50 has been projected upwardly through I the tapered aperture 48 during the assemblingprocedure,

dome. By applying and' tightening the nut 72 on the stud the nut is instrumental in pulling the tube 50 upwardly in such a manner that the flared end 52 tightly engages the wall of the aperture 48 to retain the tube 50 in an upstanding fixed relation with the soleplate. Also, the generally cylindrical steam dome 54 at the same time is urged downwardly so that the lower end of the dome in the region of the steam generating chamber pressureally engages the gasket 80 to thereby enhance the sealing of the dome with respect to the soleplate and also to hold the dome in its desired enveloping relation with the tube 50.

Formed near the upper end of the delivery tube 58 is an aperture or opening 82 providing communication between the steam dome 54 and the interior of the tube. Although the aperture 82 is formed adiacent the upper end of the tube, nontheless it has been found desirable to employ an effective, hafiling means which will produce a rather tortuous steam flow path so that the drops of water that will at times be entrained in the steam will be either broken up into fine particles thus passing on into the delivery tube 50 in substantial vapor form without adverse effect, or will be slowed down and returned to the steam generating chamber 56 again to be subjected to the boiling action there taking place. Thus, for this reason there has been devised a highly effective baflle structure designated generally by the reference numeral 84 and appearing in detail in Figure 3. From this figure it will be observed that the baffle 84 is constructed initially of two pieces which may be readily soldered or brazed together prior to installation within the steam dome 54. The lower of these two parts, as viewed in Figure 3, includes a simi-elliptical, inclined flange 86 having a ring portion 88 which forms an elliptical aperture 90 capable of encircling the tube 50. The semi-elliptical flange 86 is equipped with downwardly curved resilient cars 92 which are designed to frictionally and yielding engage the inner wall of the steam dome 54. Upstanding from the ring portion 86 is a vertically directed strut member 94 which has a fixed connection with the underside of a second semi-elliptical flange designated by the numeral 96, this flange 96 being part of the upper piece comprising the baflie 84. As with the lower piece, the upper semielliptical flange is equipped with a ring portion 98. This ring portion has a downwardly extending strut member 100 which is fixedly connected with the lower flange 86, as by soldering or brazing, just as the stud member 94 is permanently attached to the upper flange 96. Like the flange 86, the flange 96 is formed with ears 102.

The manner in which the baffle 84 is installed is felt to be readily apparent from the foregoing. However, it may be pointed out at this time that once the delivery tube 50 has been placed in proper position, then all that is necessary is that the bafile 84 be circumscribed about the tube and by virtue of the lower cars 92 and 102 the baffle will be held at the proper elevation beneath the opening 82. After having placed the baflle 84 in its encircling relation about the tube 50 the assembling procedure may proceed as previously indicated by tightening the nut 72 which, of course, applies a tensile force to the tube, pulling it upwardly so that the flared end 52 tightly engages the wall of the tapered aperture 48., all as hereinbefore explained. If desired, a heat insulating shield 104 may be attached to the handle 38 as by screws 105.

The purpose of such a shield is to protect the user of the iron from coming into personal contact with the upper end of the stud 76 which in operation will become heated due to conduction of heat from the steam passing through the dome 54.

In operation, after Water has been introduced into the reservoir 14 the water will flow gravitationally into the chamber 56 via the passage 60. Since the chamber 56 is in heat receiving relation with the element 12 via the soleplate, the water entering this chamber will be convetted to steam and will pass upwardly through the steam i dome 54 in the direction indicated by the applied arrows. After having reached the opening 82 leading into the delivery tube 50 the steam then flows downwardly through the tube and its enlarged end 52. The enlarged or flared end 52 is in direct communication with the ironing surface of the soleplate 10, and the steam will accordingly be discharged onto the fabric being ironed. For the purpose of simplification no means, such as grooves, have been illustrated and which in practice would serve to distribute the steam over an area of the soleplates ironing face. it should probably be repeated at this point that the baffle 84 is so designed with the inclined flanges 86 and 96 that the steam containing droplets of water will flow over an indirect or tortuous course, whereby the drops of moisture will be either broken up or returned to the steam generating chamber 56 for more complete conversion.

In the embodiment pictured in Figures 7, 8 and 9 and designated generally by the letter B, it will be observed that this embodiment differs only slightly from that previously described. Therefore, like parts bear identical reference numerals and only those differentiating reference numerals need be considered at this time. One difference to be noted is that the steam dome 54' is of two parts, being telescoped together at 105 with a gasket 109 therebetween. An integral collar 107 on the upper part is interiorly. tapped for the accommodation of the threaded stud member 76. By so making the upper end of the dome 54' it will be seen that the need for a separate nut member 72 is obviated, the threaded collar 107 in this instance serving in the capacity of the earlier described nut 72when the upper part is turned relative to the lower part.

As best viewed in Figure 9 it will be apparent that a different baflling structure is utilized in the present embodiment from that hereinbefore disclosed. The baffling structure now to be referred to is designated by the reference numeral 108, the baffle including a lower, upwardly inclined semi-elliptical flangelli) having a cut-out portion 112 and upwardly extending strut members 114. The upper ends of these strut members have integral connection with a similarly fashioned semi-elliptical flange 116 which is also provided with a cut-out portion 118. While the flanges and 116 do not in the present instance completely encircle the steam delivery tube 50, nonetheless they do straddle or partially encircle this tube so that the function played by the baflie 108 is substantially the same as the bafile 84. However, the baffle 108 does entail a distinct advantage as far as the fabrication thereof is concerned for this baffle can be stamped from a single sheet of material, thereby obviating a need for soldering or brazing in the making of the baflle 84.

Since the operation of the second embodiment bearing the reference letter B is the same as that with the steam iron labeled A, the operation need not be repeated at this time.

As certain changes could be made in the above construction and other different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there-between.

Now therefore I claim:

1. In a steam iron, a soleplate having a tapered aperture extending from the ironing surface of the soleplate to the upper surface thereof, said aperture having a smaller diameter at the top than bottom, a steam delivery tube having a diameter of a size suflicient to permit insertion of the upper end of said tube through said tapered aperture and a flared lower end having a maximum diameter sufiicient to prevent passage of the lower end of said tube through said aperture, a steam dome enveloping the upper end of said tube and provided with a steam generating chamber adjacent its lower end, the interior of said tube near its upper end communicating with the interior of said dome and the lower end of said dome resting upon the soleplate, and means engaging said tube and dome adjacent their respective upper ends to exert an upward tensile pull on said tube to assure a tight engagement between said flared end and the tapered wall of said aperture, such tensile pull producing a downward reactive force urging the lower end of said dome against the soleplate.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a sealing washer interposed between the lower end of said dome and the soleplate.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a reservoir, and passage means providing communication between said reservoir and said steam generating chamber.

4. In a steam iron, a soleplate having a tapered aperture extending from the ironing surface of the soleplate to the upper Surface thereof, said aperture having a smaller diameter at the top than bottom, a steam delivery tube having a diameter of a size suflicient to permit insertion of the upper end of said tube through said tapered aperture and a flared lower end having a maximum diameter suflicient to prevent passage of the lower end of said tube through said aperture, a steam dome enveloping the upper end of said tube, the interior of said tube communicating with the interior of said dome, means engaging said tube and dome adjacent their respective upper ends to exert an upward tensile pull on said tube to assure tight engagement between said flared end and the tapered wall of said aperture, and baflle means interposed between said tube and dome.

5. In a steam iron, a soleplate having a tapered aperture extending from the ironing surface of the soleplate to the upper surface thereof, said aperture having a smaller diameter at the top than bottom, a steam delivery tube having a diameter of a size suflicient to permit insertion of the upper end of said tube through said tapered aperture and a flared lower end having a maximum diameter sufiicient to prevent passage of the lower end of said tube through said aperture, a generally cylindrical steam dome enveloping the upper end of said tube, the interior of said tube communicating with the interior of said dome, means engaging said tube and dome to exert a tensile pull on said tube to assure tight engagement between said flared end and the tapered wall of said aperture, and a detachable baffle disposed between said dome and tube including a pair of semi-elliptical flange members and elongated strut members retaining said flange members in an axially spaced, oppositely directed relationship.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5 in which said baflie is formed from a single piece of sheet material.

7. The structure claimed in claim 5 in which the semielliptical flanges are inclined upwardly from the upper and lower ends of said stud members.

8. The structure claimed in claim 5 in which the semielliptical flanges are equipped with spring ears for resiliently engaging the inner wall of said generally cylindrical dome.

9. The structure claimed in claim 8 in which the semielliptical flanges are provided with integral, arcuate ring portions encircling the tube.

10. The structure claimed in claim 9 in which the baflie is of two-piece construction with each arcuate ring portion having integral therewith one of said strut members, the free end of each strut member having fixed connection with the other flange member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,677,819 Faust July 17, 1928 2,178,512 Schreyer Oct. 31, 1939 2,368,048 Stone Jan. 23, 1945 2,425,598 Clum Aug. 12, 1947 2,437,571 Waage Mar. 9, 1948 2,441,916 Busch et al May 18, 1948 2,615,265 Maykemper Oct. 28, 1952 2,617,212 Ellinwood et al Nov. 11, 1952 2,662,316 Johnson Dec. 15, 1953 

